Valve for dispensing carbonated and non-carbonated beverages



@at E4, 1356 F. WLTY ET AL VALVE Foa DISPENSING GARBONATED AND`NoN-CMBONATED BEVERAGES 2 sheets-snaai 1` Filed seiya. so, 1953INVENToRs FRANK wELTY RAYMOND wELTY BY 747% ATTORNEY F. WELTY ET ALVALVE FOR DISPENSING CARBONATED AND NON-CARBONATED BEVERAGES v 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 30, 1953 INVENTOR FRANK WELTY RAYMOND WELTYATTORNEY Unit@ States Pate-nf:

VALVE FOR DISPENSING CARBONATED AND NON-CARBONATED BEVERAGES Frank Weltyand Raymond Welty, Youngstown, Ohio, assignors to Carbonio Dispenser,Inc., Canfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 30,1953, Serial No. 383,317

6 Claims. (Cl. 137-637) The present invention relates to iluid valves,and more particularly to an improved valve assembly for mixing anddispensing carbonated and non-carbonated beverages.

It is presently a common practice in taverns and soda fountains and thelike to provide facilities for serving soft drinks which include valvemechanisms which are capable of properly mixing a plurality of softdrinks from components thereof and dispensing the beverages in areadyto-drink condition. Heretofore we have developed valve assembliesfor this purpose which comprise a plurality of valves for dispensing aavoring syrup or extract and one or more valves for dispensingcarbonated water, the valve assemblies including means to properly mixthe individual components prior to the liquid being dispensed from thevalve outlet. For full disclosure of such prior developments referencemay be had to our co-pending applications Ser. No. 97,409, tiled June 6,1949, now U. S. PatentvNo. 2,653,055; Ser. No. 215,205, led March 13,1,951, now U. S. Patent No. 2,702,051; and Ser. No. 282,752, iiled April17, 1952, now U. S. Patent No. 2,766,772.

While our prior apparatus has been concerned primarily with the mixingand dispensing from a single valve assembly of carbonated beverages of aplurality of avors, we have also found that there is a substantialcommercial demand for mixing and dispensing valves of this same generalnature which are adapted for dispensing both carbonated andnon-carbonated beverages, the term noncarbonated, as used in this sense,being sufficiently generic to contemplate beverages having acomparatively low carbonation as well as beverages having nocarbonationwhatsoever.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of our present invention toprovide an improved valve assembly for mixing and dispensing a pluralityof ilavored beverages wherein the valve is adapted for dispensingnon-carbonated as well as carbonated beverages.

Another, and lmore specific object of this invention is the provision ofa valve for mixing and dispensing carbonated and non-carbonatedbeverages alike which incorporates a substantial number of features ofour prior valve mechanisms, and which, in fact, involves a novelmodification of such prior valves, so that either type of valve may bemanufactured with substantially the same machining and assemblyprocedures. Our prior mixing and dispensing valves, for carbonatedbeverages, conventionally include three valves for avoring syrup, acommon valve for carbonated water, and three operating levers, each ofwhich is arranged to operate one of the syrup valves and the carbonatedwater valve. The arrangement is such that when any of the levers isoperated the carbonated water valve and a particular one of the syrupvalves open, and a drink of the proper proportions ot' each component,properly mixed, is dispensed from the valve. By our present invention,however, we propose to modify this conventional valve so that one of thesyrup valves controls the ow of a non-carbonated base liquid, and toprovide a novel operating lever mechanism 2,855,958 Patented Oct. 14,1958 ICC whereby one lever is operative to open syrup and carbonatedwater valves while another lever is operative to open two syrup valves,one of which syrup valves controls the ow of the non-carbonated baseliquid. The arrangement is such that without substantial modication ofthe valve proper, exclusive of the operating lever mechanism, theassembly may be adapted for serving both carbonated and non-carbonatedbeverages, selectively.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel andeffective yet highly simplified operating valve mechanism for adapting aconventional carbonated beverage mixing and dispensing valve fordispensing noncarbonated as well as carbonated beverages.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon full consideration of the following detailed specificationand accompanying drawing wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of ourinvention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front axial section view of a beverage mixing anddispensing valve constructed in accordance with the teachings of ourinvention;

Figure 2 is a side axial section view of the valve ap` paratus of Figurel; I

Figure 3 is a section View taken along line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front view of one of the operating levers ofour valvemechanism;

Figure 5 is, a front view of another operating lever of our valve; and

Figure 6 is a section view taken along line VI--VI of f Figure 5fnon-corrosive material.

Referring now to the drawing, and initially to Figures 1 and 2 thereof,the reference numeral 10 designates a generally cylindrical body memberof our valve, which may be constructed of stainless steel, for example,or other The body member 10 is provided centrally with a bore to receivea vertically movable valve plunger 11 having an enlarged head portion 12and an enlarged lower end portion 13 which comprises the active valvingelement. Received in the lower end of the body 10, below the valveplunger 11 is a tapered sleeve and plug assembly 14 which communicateswith the valve 11 and constitutes a restricted passageway leadingtherefrom. The assembly 14 is provided with a plurality of radiallydirected outlets 15 which discharge into an enlarged water entrappingchamber 16 formed by a, shell 17 and the lower axial end of the body 10.Communicating with the inlet of the valve 11 is a conduit 18 and passage19, comprising an inlet source for carbonated water under high pressure.And, as is fully described in our co-pending applications, when rthevalve 11 is opened carbonated water passes through the restrictedpassage of the plug assembly 14, where the pressure of the water isreduced substantially to atmospheric pressure, after which the water isdischarged into the enlarged entrapping chamber 16. A number of outlets20 are provided in the shell 17, each surrounding the outlet of anothervalve, as will presently appear.

Slidably received in the body vmember 1,0, at the upper end thereof, isa thimble 21 which is in the form of an inverted cup and which overliesthe head of the valve plunger 11. In accordance with the teachings ofour prior inventions the thimble Z1 provides a large head area so thatthe valve 11 may be operated by any ofr a plurality of levers, as isdesired in the conventional embodiment of the valve.

Positioned on lopposite sides of the valve 11 are vertically slidablevalve members 22 and 23 which are emvalves. As indicated in Figure l,the valves 22 and 23 lie substantially in a common plane with the watervalvef 3.. 11 `andrthis is desired kininthewconventional valve assemblyso that either the valves 22 and 23, which normally control the flow ofavoring syrup, may be operatedsubstantially` .simultaneously with theWateryalve levers positionedin sidefby-side.l relation. adjacent the,

upper encilrof thednodyy memberl. ln accordanceuwith our conventionalconstruction, the .valves 22 and.v23 are resiliently` urged in. anupwardor. closingdirectiomand arerladapted to be. opened t byL.downward.force. exerted .l

by operating levers having suitable Vcam surfaces thereon, as",willhereafter` appear. The valves` 22 and v23 are provided.1witl1.sealing. members 22a 23aI at, their loweripnlds; whichl engagev:depending .tubes 22b and 23h.,

tol-efffect-.theldesiredvalving operation. And inaccordance withthe-teachingsziofour`-prior inventions. the lowerfendsIof.theftu'bes'n22i) and .23h vare positioned. con- Cenfrisallyin like.Outletsl .ofthe enlarged .Chamber 16 whereby. to improve rnixingjyoflAthe beveragecomponents andio, assure .propen washing of the syrupvalves. after. operation thereof.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be. observed that we provide .a thirdsyrup. yvalve .A24 Awhich v,is positioned forwardly of the watervalve 11in I.spacedtrelation toV the plane defined by the valves-22 Vand-23 .andwaterv valvell." Valve -2:-. is similar..in substantially. all respectsto valves 22 and 23.

yOver'laying the. .lastmentioned .valve 24 is a horizontally disposedbar 25, one end of which is loosely re-- ivefl infaomplementary recessvinthe thiribls.. 21-

The arrangement is such that upon-a downward moving forceA beingappliedto-the bar .25'both-the thimble 21 and the bar are moveddownwardly to simultaneously,y

openavalves 111 andj ,24. While .upon application of a downward force tothe thimble alone, the bar 25 remains stationary, permitting valve 11 tobe opened withoutgopening valve-24.

Securedto the bodyl member 10, at the upper endthreof,are spacedsupporting blocks 26 which are bored vertically' to receive retainingbolts 27. The blocks -26 are-:also bored horizontally to receive-.ahorizontally disposed -pivot rod 28 which is located generally directlyabovethe hvalves 11, 22 and 23, as indicated in Figure 3, for example.

Itrshould be understood that the apparatus describedH in-the foregoingY,is merelyour conventional mixing -and dispensing valve-fora pluralityof car-bonated.beverages, substantially asllset forth in our heretoforementioned co-ipendingjapplications To aid in a fullunderstandingofgourpresent and prior inventions it should vbe noted that ourconventional valve assembly we provide three operatingglevers, notshown, positioned in side-by-side relationtronv the pivot -rod 28. Thecenter lever of the threethas a cam surface overlying the horizontallydise,

posed bar. 25 and the center portion of -the thimble 21 sol thatuponoperation of the lever water-.valve 11 and syrup-valve 24 will be,openedto vdispenseV a carbonated bever age.ofa.`.desired avorf Theouten-levers of the three ,eaeh have cam surfaces overlying -oneioffthesyrup valves. 22 :or 23 and an edge portionof the thimble 21 so,thatupon Ioperation ofeither of these last mentioned leverscarbonated-beverages. of other `desired flavors may aswell; ascarbonated beverages,- the .objects Vcontemfk plating the incorporationin such modification of a body member 10, with its housed valvingelements, which is substantially identical with that incorporated intoour conventional valve whereby machining and assembly procedures may bestandardized to a la'rge degree in the production of both types ofvalves.

In the mixing and dispensing of non-carbonated beverages it may beydesired to use as a baseliquid. either fresh water or carbonated waterhaving a veryflow carbonation in comparison with what is normally termedcarbonated water. And we have found thatin eitherv instance it isunnecessary to provide for the restriction and trapping of such fresh orslightly carbonated water inasmuch as the pressures involved aresubstantially less and there is no problem of avoiding substantial lossof carbonation. Accordingly, we have found that such fresh or slightlycarbonated water may be satisfactorily dispensed from one of the valves22-24 which is conventionally utilized to control the flow-of avoringsyrup.

Thus, in the preferred embodiment of oui-inventionA we may connect asource of fresher slightly carbonated water, not shown, to the inlet ofvalve 23, for example., And upon opening of such valve the watermay ow.,directly into the mixing funnel 29 without first passing., through anysubstantial restriction or trapping chamber as is desiredindispensingnregular carbonated Water.

Of course, itis contemplated that a proportionate quantity of avoringsyrup. will be dispensed simultaneously withthe non-carbonated water;And for this purpose weprefer to utilize Avalve 22, which -may beconnectedtova'source, not shown, of such syrup, and which,4

in accordance withf-the teachings of the invention, is

caused. toppen simultaneously or substantially simpl:- taneouslywith-the,` opening ofthe non-carbonated watervll valve 23.

To operate thefvalvesv 22 and 23 in thel Imannezide-l sired we haveprovided a novel valve voperating member;

30 which is provided with a pair of spaced butrigidly., connectedoperating cams 31 and 32 of the type sholxtvnv inV Figure 6. Inaccordance with the teachings of invention .the-,cams 31 ,and 32 Varedisposed over.tlil

exposed heads `of valves 23 and 22,'respectively,y`andarerrigidlyeonnected alongj their back edges by `an infn tegralbridging. member .33,there being formed warning- A tegral.;U -shapedassembly, `as shown in Figure. The; camsv31 and `32 are also, providedwith aligned,,bores` 34y and 35 which are. arranged to receive thepivotrndr- 28 whereby the Y cams, mayjbe pivotallyl `mounted in op;t j

eratlve relation over the valves 22 and 23.

AsV shown in Figure- 3,.in the preferred embodiment of therinventioncami31 ,is Of somewhat greater thicknessthan the cam32. Andintegral withand extending. upwardly from the inner Vedge of the cam31- is4 an op?erating lever 36 which is provided with a threaded upper end portion toreceive a knob'37. The. 'arrangement is such that an operator may graspthe knob 37 and draw the same forwardly so that the cams 31 and 32depress valves `22 'andV 23. to release components for, a non-carbonateddrink.` It will be understood, of course that such components are mixedin the funnel 29 `and fur-4 ther during ,gravity flow into a cup orglass heldbelow. the outlet of .the funnel .so thata uniformly mixeddrink, is*l obtained.

Also4 mounted on. the. pivot rod. 28, .between .theninp tegrallyconnected cams 31 and 32.is a second valveopf, erating member. 38havinga cam 39 which is similar, to the `earns 31` ankd.32,jl but whichis disposed over the thimble21 and horizontallyu disposed bar` 25,Vthe,.ar; rangementV being such thatupon rotation of the cam 39,`thethimble 21 kand bar 25-are simultaneouslyl depressed. toppen valvesv24vV and,11 And vin Iaccordance withthe teachings of. theinvention. theAvalve 24. controls thetlow.V of avoring syrupfwhilellthevalve 411havingran outletf rasaseleadins; tcfthe. owvmtrictrf .14 and watertrapping, chamber 16 controlsnthe flow of jcarbonated watten,M

that is, highly carbonated water, which formsa conventional component ofcarbonated beverages.

Integral with and extending upwardly from the cam 39, at the sidethereof opposite the operating lever 31 is an operating lever 40 for thecam 39, whichlast mentioned lever is also provided with a threaded upperend portion for receiving a knob 41. As will be apparent inFigures l and3 the operating levers 36 and40 are symmetrically disposed with respectto the valve assembly as a whole. And this is provided by making the cam31 wider than cam 32 as will be understood.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated the operatinglevers 36 and 40 are spaced rather widely, in order to obtain a morepleasing outward appearance, and therefore we have provided a recess 42at 'the right hand side of the cam 39 so that the same clears the valve22 at all times.

,Usually it is desirable to restrain the free movement of the valveoperating members 30 and 38 somewhat. And for this purpose we prefer toprovide an annular recess, as at 43 and 44, in each of the members 30and 38. The recesses 43 and 44 are adapted to receive conventionalO-rings, as shown at 45 in Figure 4, which frictionally grip the pivotrod 28 in the assembled apparatus to thus provide a predeterminedrestraining force to all movement of the operating members.

ln the illustrated embodiment of the invention we provide means toprevent or limit rearward movement of the levers 36 Vand 40 comprisinglugs 47 and 48 which engage the upper surface of the body member toprovide a positive stop, dening a normal or neutral position for thelevers.

To enclose the mechanism at the upper end of the valve assembly weprovide a cup-like cap 46 which is provided with. suitable slots 47 toreceive the operating levers 36 and 40. Screws, not shown, or any othersuitable means may be employed to retain the cap 46 in yassembledrelation. The funnel 29 is generally secured in a like manner at thelower end of the assembly. And as will be readily observed, the cap 46and funnel 29 serve to continue the general smooth contours of the valveassembly and to provide an overall pleasing outward appearance.

lt should now be apparent that we have 'accomplished the objectsinitially set forth. We have provided a novel and highly simplifiedmodification of our conventional carbonated beverage mixing anddispensing valve whereby the same is adapted for the mixing anddispensing of a non-carbonated beverage as well as a carbonatedbeverage.

As has been fully explained in the foregoing specification we Ihaveaccomplished this modification without altering in any substantialregard the 'main body portion of the valve, including the body memberproper and the active valving elements and other elements incorporatedtherein. Rather the modification is accomplishedv by means of a novelmodification of the valve operating members whereby in place of theconventional mechanism, comprising three independent levers,eachoperative to actuate a separate syrup valve and a common carbonatedwater valve, we provide two levers one of which comprises spaced butrigidly interconnected cam operators which are arranged to operate twosyrup valves simultaneously, and the other of which is arranged tooperate a syrup and a carbonated water valve simultaneously in theconventional manner. Thus, in our present modification we may connect asource of fresh or slightly carbonated water to one of the syrup valveswhereby upon actuation of one of the operating members a non-carbonateddrink is mixed and dispensed.

Through our novel modification we may maintain substantiallyystandardized manufacturing procedures in the commercial production ofvalve assemblies having widely divergent application in use, lall ofwhich results in substantial economies as will be readily understood.And there, are further advantages accruing to the modified apparatus inthat the many advantageous features of the conventional apparatus may beretained substantially throughout.

It should be understood, however, that the` embodiment hereinillustrated and described in detailis intended to be illustrative only,and reference should be, h'ad to the following appended claims indetermining the full scope of the invention.

We claim:

l. In a soft drink mixing and dispensing valve assembly of the typehaving a body member, a mixing and dispensng chamber within said bodymember, a first centrally disposed valve vertically movable in said bodymember, carbonated water inlet means leading to said first valve, outletmeans for said first valve including water restricting and entrappingmeans, second and third vertically movable valves positioned in saidbody member on opposite sides of said first valve, a fourth verticallymovable valve positioned in offset relation to said first valve,non-carbonated water inlet means communicating with said second valve,syrup inlet means communicat-ing with said third and fourth valve,outlet means for said second, third and fourth valves, the outlet meansforeach of said valves communicating with said mixing and dispensingchamber, each of said valves having a projecting head portion, aplurality of cams pivotally mounted on said body member above saidprojecting head portions for moving said valves; the improvement whichcomprises a first cam mounted for pivotal movement over said projectinghead portions of said first and fourth valves and adapted upon pivotalmovement to actuate said first and fourth valves whereby a carbonatedbeverage is mixed and dispensed, second and third cams mounted forpivotal movement over said projecting head portions of said second andthird valves, said second and third valves being positioned on oppositesides of and adjacent said first cam, and means rigidly interconnectingsaid second and third cams whereby the pivotal movement thereof issimultaneous to actuate said'second and third valves to mix and dispensea non-carbonated beverage.

2. Apparatus according to claim l further characterized by -said camsforming integral parts of operating members for said Valves, said firstcam forming part of a first member having a lever extending upwardlytherefrom, and said second and third cams forming integral parts of asecond operating member having a lever extending upwardly therefrom.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further characterized by said secondoperatingmember comprising a pair of spaced cam members, said meansrigidly interconnecting comprising an integral U-shaped member, saidsecond operating lever being integral with and extending upwardly fromone of said spaced ycam members, and said spaced cam members formingsaid second and third arms.

' 4. In a soft drink mixing and ldispensing assembly of the type havinga body member, a mixing and dispensing chamber in said body member, acentrally disposed first valve vertically movable in said body member,carbonated water inlet means communicating with said first valve, outletmeans for `said first valve including water restricting and entrappingmeans, three other vertically movable valves positioned in said bodymember in spaced relation with respect to said trst valve; theimprovement comprising first and second operating members, said firstand second operating members being pivotally mounted on said bodymember, said first operating member engaging said first valve and one ofsaid three other valves and adapted to open andclose the same, syrupinlet means communicating with said one of said three other valves andoutlet means therefor whereby a carbonated beverage is mixed anddispensed upon proper actuation of said first operating member, saidsecond operating member engaging the remaining two valves of said threeother valves and adapted to open and close the same simul-'tneuslygsyrup inlet mea'n's `communica'tingwith 'one of said'remainingtwo valveslfand 'outlet" means' therefor, non-carbonated water inletmeans communicating with thefo'th'erV of said two remaining valves andoutlet means therefor whereby a non-carbonated beverage is'mixed `anddisltie'rise'd upon proper actuation of-said second operatingniemi'ier,1 and the: outlet means of said'valves communicating with saidmixing and dispensing chamber.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 further'characterizedibytsaidvalve`-assernb1`y` including means tdpivotally inbuiitsaid 'operatingmembers in side-by-side relation, said iist valve and said 'tworemaining valves being positinedlin'sideby-side relation below thepivotalaxis' of 'said operating members, 'said rst operating memberhavig"a c'am"arranged "Ito op'en said rst valve and said ofof-sailfthervalves, and vsaid -second operating member=`havig a Ypai'r offspacedcams positioned on either s'i'de of'fsaid -irstoperating member andarranged to open sa'i'd tw' remaining valves.'-

'6. Apparattis according to claim 5 further characterized by saidir'Stbperatg'Imember being offset to 'one side f-'thecentrlaxikofsaidvalveassembly and having 'an 'operatingleve'idexte'nding upwardly therefrom adjacent' thel'sidehereof'insttset, said second operating lever having 'one cam of' greater axialthickness than the other and-having ran operating lever extendingupwardly from the-cam offgr'eater thickness, and said operating leversl`being lspaced substantially symmetrically onl 'either side of saidcentralaxis.-

References' Cited in the file of this patent UNITED-STATES PATENTS"850,916 Y Fitzgibbon Apr. 23, l907 2,371,432@ DiP42tr`0- l Mar. 13,1945 2,557,289 Housekeeper June 19, `1951 v2,573,888 i Benjamin a; vNov. 6,1951 2,653,055 i Welt'y .t.. f Sept. 22, 41953

